Drilling into refrigerator

[BrewRunning]

I've been kegging for a while and I have a refrigerator set up with 2 taps on the front. I've always kept my C02 container inside the fridge because it was slender and fit well. I just had to buy a new C02 container that is much wider and will not fit.

I will now have to keep the container outside the fridge and run a line through the side. How do I know if there are wires/coils there before I drill into it?

Are there any other options besides drilling and running a line?

Thanks

 

[stonebrewer]

Search these forums and there are some techniques for finding the wires/lines. Also see if you can find the schematics online for the fridge as it might have details on this. Bottom line is you are taking a risk in doing this, so if you nick a refrigerant line, you are pretty much done with the fridge. I did this with my kegerator and had no issues. I did go low and slow with the drill and probed as best I could before committing to a hole large enough for my CO2 line. This did allow me to go with a 20# CO2 tank which saves me a lot of money and my supplier charges only about a buck more for a 20 vice a 5. Good luck!!

 

[TravelingLight]

I've been kegging for a while and I have a refrigerator set up with 2 taps on the front. I've always kept my C02 container inside the fridge because it was slender and fit well. I just had to buy a new C02 container that is much wider and will not fit.

I will now have to keep the container outside the fridge and run a line through the side. How do I know if there are wires/coils there before I drill into it?

Are there any other options besides drilling and running a line?

Thanks

Try the rubbing alcohol and baking soda(?) trick. Make a slurry and smear it all over the area you're wanting to drill. The areas where there is a line will dry first, if there are any lines there.

 

[jammin]

If the fridge isn't completely ancient, the coils and compressor are probably in the back bottom of the appliance. There should be a duct that runs up the rear wall of the unit that delivers cooled air to the fridge & freezer. If this is is the case, you can drill practically anywhere

 

[Lambo3]

If the fridge isn't completely ancient, the coils and compressor are probably in the back bottom of the appliance. There should be a duct that runs up the rear wall of the unit that delivers cooled air to the fridge & freezer. If this is is the case, you can drill practically anywhere

Ditto... the door, sides, etc.... usually are just foam metal and plastic. The freezer may sometimes have more going on.

 

[Hammy71]

For the life of me I can't understand why people drill "into" a fridge. A sure fire method is to drill "out" of the fridge. Cut the plastic inside of the fridge with some snips and feel around with your finger and see if there's anything in the way. Then drill the metal side of the fridge. No worries.

 

[stonebrewer]

For the life of me I can't understand why people drill "into" a fridge. A sure fire method is to drill "out" of the fridge. Cut the plastic inside of the fridge with some snips and feel around with your finger and see if there's anything in the way. Then drill the metal side of the fridge. No worries.

Now that you mention it, that is how I did it. Been a while...

MD, the tax me state...nice!

 

[BrewRunning]

Thanks for all of the replies. That helps a lot!